Undergarment.



F. M. SHIPLEY.

UNDERGARMENT.

APPLICATION FILED M154. 1915.

1,297,262. Patented Mar. 11,1919.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS M. SHIPLEY, 0F PIQUA, OHIO.

UNDERGARMENT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS M. SHIPLEY,

- a citizen of the United States, and a resience being had to the accompanying drawings, formlng part of this specification.

. invention relates to undergarments particularly of the class known as union suits, wherein the bodyportion and legs are of a continuous knitted fabric, with an open 'ing down the front, a closed crotch and an opening in the seat provided with closing flaps.

The one greatest drawback against general use of such undergarments is the difficulty of providing a seat closure, which will be elastic, convenient and secure without having so many seams, folds and hems as to interfere with the comfort of the wearer, and in which the seams at the crotch portion shall be relieved from undue strain.

It is the object of my present invention to accomplish the desired result by means of an insert in which the wales of the fabric shall run at right angles to those in the body of the garment and transverse the crotch portion so as to afford the requisite elasticity lengthwise of the garment, and in which the shape of the insert and its manner of attachment shall render the trunk measurement more flexible and relieve undue strain on the seams not only in the crotch portion, but in the leg portions, at the same time that the tendency of such insert to sag and become loose and flabby shall be avoided and the shape and fit of the garment shall be maintained when in use.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a rear view of the body portion of the garment, with my improvements.

Fig. 2 is a view from the inside of the crotch portion. V

The body of the undergarment is knit in tubular form, and cut down the front to form the front opening, and partway up the back to form the leg portions 1 and 2, they having thus an unbroken connection wlth the body portion 3. The leg portions are cut to proper shape, and are sewed into leg form byseams 4 and 5, running up the inc side of the legs,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 11, 1919.

Application filed June 4, 1915. Serial No. 32,075.

For the seat opening of the garment, flaps 6 and 7 are provided. These flaps have their attachment at the top in a seam 8, which runs through both flaps along the waist line, and secures them to the body of the garment, with their corners touching at the point 9 at the head of the cut in the seat, and the overlapping flap 6 extending therefrom in one direction, and the under- %ying flap 7 in the other along the waist The outer side edges of the flaps are sewed to the sides of the seat cut by scams 9, 10, respectively, andthe inner side edges left free. A. button 11, located to one side of the seam 10, provides securing means for the overlapping flap 6, which has a buttonhole 12.

In order to relieve the strain on the seems at the crotch portion and still to maintain a proper and smooth fit for the garment while in use, the lower or crotch portion ends of the flaps 6 and 7 are provided with triangular shaped extension pieces 13 and 14, in which the wales run transverse the wales of the flaps and thus transverse the body of the garment. These extension pieces are attached to their respective flaps by seams 15, 16, with the obtuse angle 17 18, of each extension at the lower end of its respective flap seam 9, 10, and with one acute angle 19, 20, inserted at the upper end of its respective leg seam 4, 5, and the other end carried across the crotch portion at 21, 9-2, so that these two acute angular portions will overlap. The two extensions are seamed throughout their three sides. The inner free side edges of the flaps 6 and 7 are thus carried to the ends of the leg seams at each side of the crotch and there is no free edge for either extension piece 13, 14. The open flaps give ample opportunity for free movement and stretching of the garment around the body, but for lengthwise stretching when the flaps are attached directly to the garment at each end there is not suflicient elasticity; to provide an elastic extension for the entire width of the flap, inasmuch as the flaps have a-fre open edge, and leaves a free open edge for the insertion. In that event, after short use, the insert pulls out and sags and the neat fit of the garment is lost.

With my improvement I have obtained the advantage of lengthwise elasticity without the disadvantage. The extension piece reduces to a: narrow end at the free edge of the flap, so that it cannot pull-out at this edge, While at the other end of the extension it forms a narrow gusset for the leg seam, relieving the strain on the seam and at the same time one corner of the main flap is brought down to the leg seam and fastened there, so that a rigidity is obtained for the attachment, which assists in maintaining the construction against sagging and pulling out While in use.

While I have characterized the extension pieces as triangular, it will be understood that I do not wish to be confined to any strict geometrical shape. The ends of the extension pieces need not come to a point and the obtuse angle can be rounded and other changes in shape adopted Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is

1. In a union garment, leg portions and a body portion, with opening in the rear to a point near the waist line, and two overlapping flaps to close the rear opening, each secured at the top and along one side edge to its respective side edge of the rear opening, and each flap provided with an extension piece for the lower end of the flap, said.

extension piece having narrow ends, one end forming a gusset for the leg seam and the other end carried beyond the median line of the crotch portion to provide a closed crotch, and'having the free edge of the flap secured to the leg seam at the last mentioned end of the gusset, with the Wales of the extension pieces running transverse the garment body to provide elasticity therefor lengthwise.

.2. In a union garment, leg portions and a. body portion, with opening in the rear to a point near the Waist line, and tWo overlapping flaps to close the rear opening, each secured at the top and-along one side edge to its respective side edge of the rear opening, and each flap provided with aneXt-ension piece for the lower endof the flap, said extension piece beingobtusely triangular in shape with theacuteangular portions, one extending into the leg seam to form a gusset to relieve the leg seam, and the other extending across the median line of the crotch to provide a closed crotch andhaving-the free edge of the'ilap secured tothe leg seam at the last mentioned end of the gusset, with the Wales of the extension running transverse the garment body to provide elasticity therefor lengthwise.

FRANCIS M. SHIPLEY.

ovies of this patent "may be obtained tor five cents each, by addressing the Goremissionerof Eetents, Washington, 1'3, 11. 

